Tobacco-leaf-stemming machine.



J. P. SGOVILL.

'rpmcco LEA'P STEMMING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1913. 1,067, 149.

Patented July 8, 1913;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. P. SOOVILL.

TOBAGGO LEAF STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1913.

1,067,149. Patented July 8,1913.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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James P seovrrn er aim-mam, rein-1o, Ass-xenon TO-TROJAN MACHINEcommit-r,

' or near, 'NEW YO=RK; A coaroimrioir or NEW Yon-x.

. aoiieceo-tmrsmsmmm'mummies.

meme;

Specification, of Letters latent. Application filed April 8,1913. ISaris-1N0. 259,592. I

,To'f'iill ev kofljzfz't may concern;

.4 Be it known that 1, JAMES P. Smyrna, a" e .Qf'the-E United 'States',residing a Cincinnati, in the eounty of Hamilton and- State ofOhio,'have' invented a certain'new ieed machine ofthe general t.peillustrated 'in'the patent granted" R; Cofieef-No; 569,575.,grantedOct.11?;, 1896. ln-this'prior j'patent'a-nd, the others with which I amfa-' "milia r the stripping rolls havea continuous stripping periphery."In oneJof my-rolls' 2 2'5" there is a longitudinal row of p ointed me]-talli'c instrumentalities, I such as 'wires, nee dies or tacks-,and onthe opposing I'rollis a fiber or resilient segment set to contact ormeet with the. leaf puncturing 'instrumen- $0 'ta-liti'es', sothatfthere is a simu'ltaneous punc hiring and Wiping action; The majorpo-r-' tionflof' the peripheral surfaceissmooth, non-contacting-with itsadjacent surface, so thatthestripping action is intermittent, and theleafcanibe readily "introduced between the rolls. "At the same time,either the circumferenee (if the rolls or of the peripheral surface,intermediate the stripping elements, .is about equal to an average leaflength, so

[that there is no tendencyto Wrap the .leaf jolt-stem around the rollandit will beth-rown oiitshould it become pulled away from the 'belts.In this Way I can use the most .efi'ecq'tive speeds safely andefficiently, and. there Q5 arej no structural .part's' other than thestripwhich would tend toe iert a concus- -sionontheleaf.

I "Following is a brief statement of features, characteristics, andobjects of the invention.

Stripping elements simultaneously coact- "ing on opposite sides ofthe-leaf, :of differeptial eifi ciency. rActionint-erm'itting, main anopening between the rolls during greater. part of a singlerotation.Stripping segments narrow faced; circumferentially so rat liteaauly e,1913.

as-jt-o present a' minimum amount of leaf attacking instrumentalitiesliable to either ,break'or entangle the ste s Circu ference of rolls.approximating or greater than average ljeaf length so thata stem Willnot overlaparoundthe roll, Each .roll' has a imajor portion of itsperiphery smooth or nor 1-' stripping, and noncontacting with the adgacent periphery, so, as to maintain openhetween rolls during greaterpart of a.

single rotation, for'readyleaf acc ss. Flexiblle member,.the looseportionextended um der the inflpence of Icentrifugal foree, op- 1erating in 'rel'ation to theextremities of the metallic- .0rpuncturinginstrumentalii .b h ebi tz s imi i i lea min ng; ea litengl'ei e 39R l em reak g, to i fimiee t .strineil lemen e separ te the lieafatrom' the "stem without greater Ra'rt of the time for leaffaccess; to

Ne ie radiail" surface,-

v 710 t e not ee l c nc l mrmal y, but momentarily to expose them for vstripping .80 meeting .thestrij os or severing thestem's'; tonaintain'anopeiiiugbetween the rolls the make stripping elements. on oneroll of Clif vferential efii'ciency compared to stripping elementsofgthe opposite rollQsd-tliat the elements' operafing'simultaneously onopposite sides'of'. the leaf approximate in charaeter the. differentconditions of the texture pre-z sented. loy a transverse sectionof-the-leaf during operation. The effect of the vsimule taueeus actionof elementsof-idifierentijal eiliciency upon opposite sides of the leafis to'more OIJlBSS turn the Stein onits axis as git; passes endwisebetween the rolls so asto expose every portion of the Web to the stripin action, P Iiiis to-be sets of rolls each operating in relation. to astem gripping carrier "advancing the leaf at an angleto the axes oftherolls so ast'o causethe. jungripped portion of the leaf ors-tem- .to'he .drawn between the rolls andv to move progressively e dvvi th rolls.-1

understood that there aret'ivo on the other hand, the other set of rollsop-' erate from the medial portion of the leaf toward the tip in thegeneral direction of the 1 leaf grain, a relatively more diflicultseparaportion to the rate of tion and consequently the aggregatestripping efiiciency for this step is relatively greater. It is also tobe understood that the capacity of the machine is somewhat in prosaeedat which the rolls can be safely and efliciently rotated.

.A two-fold object is to obtain-the maximum stripping capacity with rollspeeds and strippers producing the minimum amount of roll counterdragging influencesrelative to the draw of the carrier, so as to'subjectthe leaf to the minimum amount ofstem breaking, leaf mauling, and leafentangling influences, and to reduce to a minimum all influencesopposing the introduction of the leaf between the ends of the rolls andthe progressive travel of the leaf in a direction endwise of the roll.The greater the area of roll stripping surface, the greater the tendencyof leaf to become impaled upon the extremities of the strippers,adhering to and impeding the roll, hence I reduce to a minimum the areaof roll stripping surface-, depending upon speeds appropriate to imparta high frequency or intermittent character or stripping operation, thenon stripping roll surfaces predominating.

The relative ratio of carrier travel, roll speeds, and degree ofstripping efficiency may be selected with reference to the conditions ofthe products and the results de-" sired. In one instance, a maximumstemmmg capacity may be the main obyective, and more or less sllghtmaulmg of the str ps a secondary consideration, as in producing productsfor pipes or cigarette smoking and other uses, whereas in anotherinstance it may be desirable to curtail the maximum capacity forproducing a better condition of strips, as in preparing tobacco forcigar fillers or plugs, and various types of smok ing tobacco.

' The objects, features and characteristics,

will-be readily understood in connection with the description'oftheaccompanying drawings forming a 'part of this specification andrepresenting the preferred embodiment of the invention, inwhich Figurelis a front elevation of the first stripping rolls. Fig. 2 is an end viewof said rolls. Fig. 3 is an end View of the second stripping rolls. Fig.4 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the stem gripping carriers,

or leaf presenting means and stripping rolls representing their generalrelative diSPOSltion in an organized machine. Fig. 5 is an endview of arejecting roll one of which or a pair of which is preferably placed infront of each pair of stripping rolls.

Arrows are used to mdicate directions of rotation and movement andt-heleaves are crudely dotted in to indicate their general direction oftravel and position.

v The first strippers'comprise the rolls A, B, rotated in oppositedirections through any suitable provision, and C, D, represent thesecond stripping rolls also operated in opposite directions. a 2

Thefirst rolls are set at an angle to stem gripping carrier belts E, andthesecond set of rolls is set at approximately the same angle-relativeto a second stem gripping carrier F. The two sets of stem grippingcarriers have an overlapping relationship or zone of concurrent actionfor shifting the "stem grip and transposing the order of leafadvancementise that the stem held and pulled substantially the same ofthe sequential operations. This might be accomplished by giving thesecond carrier a relatively higher'speed than the first carrier and thesame general direction of way for each travel, when the machine isorganized substantially as indicated in Fig. 4, but it is understoodthat the same general end might be accomplished by causing the secondcar'- rier to move at an angle in relation to the first carriersubstantially as'shown ina machine organization disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 690,883, filed April 15, 1912.Preferably, the rolls have a circumference approximately of an averv ageleaf length say eighteen inches, so

that a stem or leaf will not have opportunity to lap around one of theserolls, while if a stem is occasionally drawn out of the grip of thecarrier, the centrifugal force will throw it away from the rolls andprevent them from becoming packed or encumbered. The periphery of eachroll has a smooth or non-stripping circumferential surface, the rollsbeing so set that during rotation the smooth surfaces do not contact butpresent and maintain an -opening between the rolls during the greater.part of the rotation, renderin ready access for the leaves drawn by thelt. The non-stripping, non-contacting roll surfaces, also function tohold the portion of the leaf undergoing operation substantially in theplane oftangential presentationto the strippers, and being preferablysmooth surfaces they offer no opposition to the movement of the leafendwise of the rolls, c. -.'0 the draw of the 0 apiece of leathererrubberfbelting,; the outer i a. ential-fz-fiexiblemember-8,.theoppo'site ends.

leaflongitudinally of as: steam between" the rolls 1 during: the

On thelower roll A, I preferably-provide;

52: short longitudinalro-w of initial leaf puncturing needles '1, at theend -of-the r011 immediately adjacent the carrier belt; Preferably Imodify theoperation of these- I needles 1- by attachingitheopposite-endsof- Tea circumferential flexible member =2, say a beltsection, tcthe smooth" portion's of the periphery, the inedial,looseportion' of this flexible member. being disposed over the -nee--dles 1, through which the needlesproject; The centrifugal vforce throwsthis loose -me dial portion of the flexible member out-- wardl y sothatit'not only conceals the extremities of the'needles but-the looseportion forms a'radiallyyielding surface'which can be forced-inwardly toexpose the -needles slightly and momentarily at .the tangential 'line ofleaf presentation, so as to puncture thejweb and-then retreat withoutimparting an elongatedtear or cnt.=' On the other roll B, -adjacent'theneedles 1, I preferably pro vide asecond circumferential flexible 'mem-"ber the endsof which are secured to-the periphery, the medial portionbeingyjloose' directly iopposite the. needles, and 5 I prefer.ablyfornrslits'4 in this member 3, sothat the needles-will not engage.i-ntoithis leather piece 3. ,It'is' desirable that this member 3 shallbe stiffener-lessfiexiblethan the mem as-t0 nrge-a-the leaf ltoward'thenee.

and-to de" ress-the medial portionof, the" member .2 511 iently to bringthefneedle's momentarily into action. A convenient way 1 ofaz'stiffeningthi's member '3' is to provide a j longitudinal fle'ilblc member 5,.s'uch a's a ,end jofwhich is attached-to the periphery of, the rapperrel-1,: the inner or free end extend-J ing tran'sVerselyj5between theperiphery of' the rollandthe loose portion of the memberj3,"actingias asort of --spring .or tension influence; x

Lrthe initial*leafg-pnneturing:instrume H itie sarenot-ofthe-essencejofthem-- 'v eiiti n,=1 norf-reqiiired nnder all; conditions, 50, they" are-'advantageousunder some condt, tioii f operation'depending'uponthecharacter of-the. P IQdIiGt; I ()f 'conrse,-the inst'r u mentalities"are -only; showir inztheurolls nhih 1 li fi Z "fit-ripping; efl iiencyyelements or sp urs: for the-roll A,- compriseja-l'ongitndinal rowofzwir'es," needles, or ally i, from the periphery. and preferably ing? orrejecting-through slots's of the mediah loose-portion; 7" of. ajcircumfer-- pf y'vhieh agre attached' to the periphery" of; the an;aand his fiexible memberop eret es I in relation heelementsfi"substantially as:

ip ing; The maj or 4 the menses-.2 coordinates" withotlie needles- 'll'Breferably: the tacks or spurs 6 are-spaced to: approximate thediameter of 'theLabutt-I'pontionof the stem which passes betweenithe=first ro1l's,':and the spurs arepreferably inclined. 'reversely to thedirection offroll rotation so as notto hook into the product. i

the companion roll B, I place a nar- 1'oW: faced brush=,-'fiber orresilient segment 9radiallyrprojectingfrom the periphery and segmentofminor efficiency, the'elements 6,

mentary contact once during a single rotat-1on.- Preferably the brushsegment 9 IS -'se t-=t0 fcontactthe elements 6 during aroll J rotation.The fiber represents a stripping formed with .the inclined face 10 so asto presentfthe shorter fibers first to the bent tacks 6 in thedirectionof roll rotation so that there is a gradual closing in upon the leaf ofthese two stripping'eleinents of differential efliciency. In the secondset of.

rolls C,' D, I provide a similar brush seginent" and harsher strippingsegment-of spurs, except that no flexible member is shown, and on theroll C of the second set I preferably provide two or more rows of spurs6, or stagger them, so that the aggregate strippingefiiciency ofthesecond strip- I pingrolls is greater than that of the first rolls-, inorder toseparate 'the leaf from the stem when the stripping ,is in thegeneral direction of the leaf grain or toward the tip.

The spurs 6 ofthe second set of rolls ares'et relatively closer togetherto approximate the diameter of the tip ends of the stems passing throughthe second rolls.

;-In practice, I preferably run the first set fOf rollsat the rate ofsay, nine hundred r0 tations-a minute or even more,while in the secondrollsthe rotation is proportionately higher, saytwelve hundred rotationsa min-- 7 ute or more so as to accentuate the difference betweentheirfrelatively differential strip-' ping efficiency. At the same timepreferably thesecond'belt has a faster surface, than the firststemgripping carrier. It will be noticed that a greater portion of theperiphcry of each roll. is smooth and non contacting and preferablyformed by segmental wooden' blocks 11 and as the smoothperiplr'eral'surfaces do not contact, they maintain an: opening between therolls readily ad- :m'itting leaf presentation and the traversetack-s16,- projecting radi Jot-theleaf"'lengthwise ofithe rolls, whilethe: stripping .1 segments. occupy but a small portion of the peripheryso that the operatio'n is intermittent, but owing to-the high 1stempassing-endwise between the rolls, so -va s-to effectually; separatethe webrfrom the stem close to and parallel with the stem and whetherstripping toward the butt or toward the tip. Thefiber or resilientsegment 9 is closely compacted and only projects slightly radiallybeyond the smooth periphery formed by the adjacent blocks 11, therebylimiting the depth of stem embedment into the brush surface, while thewood segments 11 act as binders laterally confining or compacting thefibers. The simultaneous differential. and intermittent stripping issufficient to effect the separation while reducing to a minimum thecounter drag of rolls upon the leaf held between the carrier belts undersuperior tension.

Preferably I place before the stripping rolls, a roll or pair of rolls15, see Figs. 4 and 5 appropriately rotated, and having flexible flapsor radial repellers 16, for

'throwing out short, or broken leaves and attacking agencies, to-wicircumferential flexible member 3, have preventing them from enteringthe stripping rolls, or being retained by the stem gripping carriers soas to be carried through the machine without adequate stripping.

These discarded products calrbe stripped on the same machine by sofeeding them as to insure an effective grip of the carrier 50 asto'effectively subject the leaf web to the stripping'action. Of courseall the strippers, whether spurs, fiber wires, tacks or brushes, projectradially from the periphery and form fixed components thereof defining astripping surface or segment, though they may be bent or inclined so asnot to liter-' ally coincide with the geometrical radius of the rolls.Preferably the minor efficient elements are resilient, the harshercoacting .eleliients are stiffer or relatively non-resil-.

ient so as to form simultaneously coacting stripping elements ofdifferential efficiency, though the comparative degreecf resilience isnot of limiting significance except where the differential strippingefliciency" is directly a characterization of the claims. 7 Either theelements 1 or 6 may be generalized as spurs fixed in relation to theperiphery, and the flexible circumferential belt may be'generalized as aradially movable member effectively exposing the spurs for stripping butrendering said spurs inoperative except on the tangential line of leafpresentation.

The invention is of course susceptible of various embodiments differingfrom the specific disclosure of the drawings.

In the first pair of rolls one pair of leaf t, the spurs 1 and definiteleaf puncturing, or transverse webserering function which will not cut.the stern, while the other-agencies,"to wit, the brush segmentandcoacting spurs have definite, stripping function longitudinally ofthe stem. zThese two agencies coordinate as the rolls are rotated toadminister these two treatments as the leaf is drawn between the rollslongitudinally of its stem, while at the same time it travels in ageneral direction endwise of the rolls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s:.

1. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll having a stripping segmentextending endwise acrossthe'periphery comprising radially projectedfibers, said roll having, a-large portion ofits periphery constituting anonstripping surface, and means engaging the stem and drawing it intooperative relation to the stripping roll.

segment of radially projected members the components being ofdifferential stripping efficiency, said segments coacting during a rollrotation, and each of said rolls having a major portion of its peripheryconstituting a non-strippingsurface, providing an open space betweentheirolls during a greater part of a single rotation, and means engagingthe stem and'drawing it into operative relation to the stripping rolls.3. In a tobacco stemming machine,- in combination with a stem-strippingcarrier, a roll having a stripping segmentof closely compacted fibers,radially secured to the periphery constituting strippinginstrumentalities of minor efficiency, a companion roll provided .withradially secured members constituting stripping instrumentalities ofmajor efficiency, said rolls being so' arranged that said strippinginstrumentalities and segment coact during the roll rotation, the majorportion of each roll beingv arranged to provide a non-stripping surfacepresenting an opening between the rolls except when the strippingmembers-are brought into coactive position. I

4c. Ina tobacco stemming machine, a roll having a brush strippingsegment, a greater portion of the peripheral surface being nonstripping, and means engaging the stem and drawing it intooperativerelation to the strippingv roll. v

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll having a longitudinal row ofspurs, the major portion of the periphery being a non- .strippingsurface, and means engaging the stem and drawing it into operativerelation to the stripping roll.

6. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll, formed with a singlelongitudinal, minor circumferential stripping segment comprising closelycompacted resilient elements, and means. engaging the stem anddrawing itinto operative relation to the stripping roll.

7. Inya tobacco stemming .machine', in

pair of oppositely rotated 'rolls,-one being of oppositely rotated rollseach having a combination with leaf presentingmeans, ah

a at:

eanne formed with a longitudinal stripping segment comprising closelycompacted resilient elements, the other roll having-a longitudina row ofspurs, the diiferentlal stripping elements coac'ting duringthe rollrotation,

the .major portion of the-@peripheral" smface of each roll beingnonestripping and noncontacting and the resilient segment having aninclined face presenting the shorter izleinents first to the spurs inthe direction of roll rotation.

8, in a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a

of oppositely rotated rolls having re- ,Spectively strippinginstrumentalities of mii101" and major eiiiciency adapted tosimultaneously operate upon opposite sides of a leaftendii g'to turn thestem on its axis as itis' drawn endwise of the rolls, and the ma- ,jorportion of the peripheral surface of each roll being non-stripping.

9. flu a tobacco stemming machine, a roll' having .strippingsegment anda major nons'tripping peripheral, surface, the circumfer-- enceapproximating an average leaf length,

andmea-ns presenting a leaf to the rotating combination with leafpresenting means, a

pair. of oppositely rotating Tolls having al- =ternatestripping and nonstripping peripheral mfracesthe stripping surfaces coactmg and thenon-stripping surfaces non-contacting, maintaining an opening throughthe rolls during the greater ,part ofa single rotation, an rthestrippers ofone rollbeing of difi'erenti -l et iicie'ncy as compared tothe r 1 combination with leaf presenting means, a pair of oppositelyrotated rolls one-formed strippers-bf the companion roll. v

12. "In "a tobacco stemming machine, 111' crimbinationwithleafpresenting means, a'

roll formed-With a longitudinal row, of 'stripperai saidroll having amajor nonstripping surface, a flexible member secured to thenon-stripping surface to provide a yielding 'surfa eeha ving its looseportion disposed adj-aeent tothe strippers.

I '13. In .af'tobaeco stemmingmachine, 1n combinationiwi'th leaf,presentln'g means, a

roll for "ed with a longitudinal row of strip{ pars, SaldI frQlfl havinga considerable nonstripping surface, a flexible member, the oppositsends .uflw'hich are secured to the nons'tripping peripheral surfaceprovidinga loose porti'on, and the strippers operating through saidloose ,portion,

M in a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a

pair of oppositely rotated rolls, one being formed with a longitudinalrow of leaf puncturing instrumentalities," a flexible member, theopposite endsbeing secured to the rollperiphery, the puncturing instrumentalities operating through the medial loose portion of said flexiblemember, the

opposite roll having a second flexible memf her, the medial looseportion being arranged to coactwith the medial loose portion-of theflexible member of itslcompanion roll.

'15. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll,

a flexible Imember' extending-circumferentially, its opposite ends.being secured to the'roll leaving a medial loose portion, and

a longitudinal flexible member one end of- Which is secured to the roll,the free end extending transversely between the ipe-v riphery of theroll, and the medial loose puncturing instrumentalitieaa circumferen;

tial flexible member having a loose ,portion disposed in relation to the.pifncturing instrument-antics; the other roll having a member set toenact with the loose portion of the flexible member, and a considerableportion of the circumference of said rolls being non-stripping.

17. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

combination with leaf presenting means, a

pair of oppositely z-rotated rolls having stripping elements ofdiiferent-ial eiiiciency set to simultaneously operate upon oppositesides of a leaf, a flexible member secured to one .of said rolls toprovide a radially yielding surface, said 'rolls having non-strippingsurfaces maintaining an opening'between the rolls during a greater apartof a single rotation, the circumference of said rolls approximating anaverage leaf length.

18. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

with a longitudinal row of leaf'puncturing instrumentalities, :acircumferential member "having its opposite ends attached to the roll,.itsloose portion normally concealing the extremities of the puncturinginstru- "mentalities the com anion roll. havin a lesser flexible member,its loose portion coacting with the loose portion of the ad]a 7 centflexible member during roll rotation.

19. Infla tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leafpresentingmeans, a

roll having a longitudinal .row of-leaf punc-' turing instrumentalitiesand a flexible-member secured to the rollwith its loose portion piercedto normally conceal the extremities yielding. nnderradial pressure tomomenta-rily expose the said instrumentalities for operation.

" 20. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

combination with leaf. presenting means, a" pair of oppositely rotatedrolls, a longi-- 'tudinal row of fibers on one roll, a longiacting withthe harsher stripping instrumentalities, the major portion of theperipheries being non-contacting and non-' stripping.

22. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting'means, a pair of oppositely rotated rolls, having 7 stripping'elementsof differential efliciency adapted to operate simultaneously uponopposite sides of a leaf, said rolls having noncontacting andnon-stripping peripheral surfaces, and so arranged that during the Vrotation, there is an intermitting action foif simultaneously engagingstripping elements of differential e ciency.

23. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a pair of oppositely rotated rolls each formed with peripheralstripping and non-stripping surfaces, the stripping elements coacting'during roll rotation, the stripping in- "strumentalities of one rollbeing of major and the stripping instrumentalities of the other roll ofminor efliciency, and thenon stripping surfaces providing ready leafair:-

cess during the roll rotation.

24. In a tobacco stemming machine, a first and a'second roll oppositelyrotated,

, means presenting a leaf thereto, a row of leaf puncturinginstrumentalities on the fl-rstproll, a flexible member on the firstroll ha ing its loose portion pierced to operate in relation to theextremities of said puncturing inst-rumentalities'a second row ofharsher stripping instrumentalities on the first roll on another portionof the periphery, alesser flexible member on the second roll having itsloose portion coacting with the puncturing instrumentalities of. thefirst roll, and a compacted brush segment on another portion of theperiphery of said second roll, set to coact with the harsherinstrumentalities of the first roll, the major portion of the peripherybeing non-contacting and non-stripping; V

25. In a. tobacco stemming "machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a

first and a second-setof oppositely rotating rolls, the rolls off eachset having stripping instrumentalitiesf of differential .eificiencyoperating simultaneously upon opposite sides of the'leaf, the aggregatestripping efliciency'of one set of rolls being of-minor charactertooperate against the leafgrain and the aggregate stripping efliciencyof the other set of'rolls being of major character to operate in ageneral direction of the leaf g i I v 26. In a tobacco stemming machine,in

vcombination with leaf presenting means, a

pair of oppositely rotated rolls, one having a longitudinal row of.major eflicien'cy'stripping elements, the other having a coacting,

longitudinal row of less efliciency stripping elements, portions ofthe'peripheries being non-contact-ingnnd non-stripping surfaces,rendering an intermittent action of differential stripping. efliciency,the lesser "efficiency elements exerting a wiping action on the leafsimultaneously with the puncturing or rending action of the majorstripping efliciency elements.

27. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a roll having radiallyprojecting lea-f attacking elements forseparating the web from the stem, and a flexible member having a surfaceoperating under the influence of centrifugal force in relation to theextremities of said elements, and yieldable under radial pressure.

28. Ina tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a pair of oppositely rotating, rolls, radially projectingstripping elements, and a flexible member having ,a loose medial portionoperating under the influence of centrifu a1 force and adapted to yieldinwardly un er radial pressure.

29. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, a first and a second stemgripping carrier, having overlapping ends, and the same generaldirection of travel, arranged for se quential operation, and fortransposing the order of leaf advancement between the carriers.- a pairof stripping rolls for one carrier having segmental stripping andnonstrippingsurfaces, and a second pan of stripping rolls for the'othercarrier.

30. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, a first and a second -stemgripping carrier, said'carrier being arranged for delivering a leaf,fi'om one to the other carrier, and for transposing the order of leafadvancement, a pair of stripping rolls for one carrier hav ing segmentalstripping and non-stripping surfaces, :1 second pair of stripping rollsfor the second carrier, and a flexible member attached to one rollhaving a portion centrifugally extended and yielding under radialpressure, said member coacting with one of the stu 1n o erations toinfluence the leaf position as it-is being separated from g the stem. j

31. In combination with, a stem gripping carrier'and rotating strippingrolls, a rotating roll having radial repellers, disposed in fronto'f-the stripping roll and appropriately rotated for throwing out shortor broken leaves and preventing them entering the working parts of thestemmer.

32. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presentingmeans, oppositelyrotated rolls, means drawing a leaf throu h said rolls, one of saidrolls having radia y projecting leaf attacking elements 'on a portion ofits periphery, and acircumferential flexible member onjsa'id roll havinga portion expandlng under the influence of centrifugal force and formina yielding radial surface,

said leaf attac ing elements operating through said expanding portion.

tated rolls, means drawing'a leaf through said rolls, one of said rollshaving radially projecting leaf attacking elements on a-por tion of 7its periphery,- a circumferentialmember on said roll having'a portionexpanding under the influence of centrifugal force and forming aradiallyyielding surface, said leaf attacking elements operating.through said expanding portion of ,the' circumferential member, theother roll having a segment on a portion of its periphery formed ofradially projecting resilient ele- 1 ments, and the rolls being arrangedso that i said segment coacts with the leaf attacking elements of theadjacent roll and with the yielding surface of said circumferentialmember. j r 40 34. In a-tobacco'stemming machine, leaf presenting means,a roll, in combination with resilient leaf attacking elements radiallyprojecting from said roll andficonstituting a minor segment of theperiphery,

and binding segments laterally 'compacting the elements of saidstripping segment, and limiting the depth of stem embedment.

35. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf' presenting means, a roll, incombination with resilient 'le'af attacking element's radiallyprojecting from said roll and constituting a longitudinally extendingminor segment of the periphery, and binding segments having smoothperipheral surfaces laterally adja-' cent the resilient radial elements,and limitingthe depth of stemembedment.

36. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presenting means, in-combinationwith, a roll having a longitudinal row of radially 6 projecting spurs,and a cooperating roll having a longitudinal row of radially projectingstripping elements, said row senacting as therolls are rotated, thecircumferential roll. surfaces adjacent said stripping elements beingnon-contacting and non-stripthe spurs operating through said yieldingnamed roll.

'33. Ina tobacco stemming machine, leaf. presenting means, a pair ofoppositely ro-' leaf accessand leaf support during-the non'- strippingportion of roll rotation, andco- 'ping and constituting a roll openingsup porting the leaf .011 the lower roll in approximately the tangentialplane of presen tation. I a I 37. In a tobacco :stemming machine, leafpresenting means, a roll, radiallyproject ing' e um on a --port=icn ofthe peri hery, a flexible member having a radially yielding surfaceexpanded under centrifugal force,

surface,'a second roll, and means on the second roll so placed as tocoac't with-the sins and with the yielding sur faceoffth'e exible memberof the periphery of'fihe fi'rs't 38, In a tobacco stemming machinefileaf presenting means, afro'll having leaf attacking elements, and aflexible member'sedure'd to the roll and prbvidin'gEa circumferential"extending surface yielding radiallmand be; acting-with said "leafattacking.-elel iients.=. 39. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf 1presenting means, a pair of rot-ated rolls, one'hayingja leaf attackingelements, a circumferential flexible member on the other roll having aradially yielding surface 'expanded by centrifugal force," and, :formedwith circumferential slits for tangentially passing theattackingelements of theopposite roll.

a 395 40.111 a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presenting means, a pairof rolls, stripping elements, and. a flexible circumferential member onone roll having a radially yield-' ing surface expanded by' centrifugalforce. 41. In a tobacco stemming machine, leafresentinginstrumentalities, a pair of rolls ormed with circumferential,non-cont acting, non-stripping surfaces, coacting to provide ingelements, the major peripheral roll sur- 'face being non-stripping,-soasjto bring said single element intooperation but once dur- 4 mg onerotation.

43, In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presenting means, a. pair ofrolls, one of said rolls having ashort longitudinal row of leafpuncturing elements at the stem-entering end of the roll, the rowbeing.lineal1y proportioned to substantially sever the Web transverselyas it passes endwise of the roll.

44.111 a tobacco, stemming machine, leaf presenting means, :a roll,fixed spurson'a portion of the periphery, and a radially,

yielding surface expanded by centrifugal force, through which theextremities of the {spurs project during the stripping operation.

. 45. In a tobacco stemming mach ne, leaf presenting means, a roll,fixed 3 3111s on' the periphery, and a radially lnova le memberoperating to produce an effective spur pro-' jeetion beyond'said memberduring the roll rotation, for the stripping-action, and-to render saidspurs inoperative except on the tangential line of leaf presentation.

46, In a tobacco stemming machine, leafprese'ntingf'means for grippingand ulling one end' of the leaf, an angularly dlspo'sed pair ofstripping rolls, one roll being formed with a longitudinal row ofperipheral spurs,

opposite sides "of the leaf, tending to turn the ungripped end of theleaf on its axis .;as' it progresses endwise between the rolls.

=47. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf ---r p'resenting means, and aroll formed-with are;

a; ."longitudinal row of peripheral spurs,

Is paced one from another to afford. a stempassage between adjacentspurs, longitudinallly of, the roll approximating the diameter inf-thatportion of thO StQID to'be drawn ends wise of said roll byf s aid leafpresenting 48. In a tobacco stemming machine, means for gripping anddraw ng a leaf, stripping rolls rotating in opposltion to the draw ofthe carrier, leaf puncturing spurs on a por- 3' .tion of the peripheryof one of the rolls, at the leaf entering end, said spurs being spacedto afford} intermediate stem passage, for transversely severing the leafwithout cut ting thestem, and coacting stripping'ele. 4D

ments on other portions of the roll peripheries, forstripping fromsaidtransverse cut longitudinally of the stem.

49. In a tobacco stemming machine,.a stem gripping carrier, a pair ofrolls rotating in opposition to the draw of'the carrier, provided with-arow of leaf puncturing spurs adjacent the carrier, for' cutting' theleaf transversely without severing the stem, and

also provided with co-acting stripping ele.- Q ments extendinglongitudinally of the rolls, r

positioned to operate after the leaf cutting, to strip longitudinallyofthe' stem from the out line to the end, of thezstem, as the leaftravels endwise of and is drawn through the 55 rollsby the carrier. I

JAMES P. SCOVILLQ Witnesses:

- PA L FmoKnL, V ANNIE Coornn.

